A minimum of one circulation audit report each year is required to be audited by an external auditor as defined in rule 4.1.
External audits are to be performed annually, or as determined by the committee of Audit Bureau of Circulation.

Any party that a publisher company shall appoint who shall be a chartered accountant (holding a current
certificate of public practice) to carry out circulation audits, must be a registered ABC auditor in accordance with Rule 4.1.1.

4.1.1

Any party wishing to carry out circulation audits in accordance with the ABC Rules and Audit Guidelines must complete a
registration form and acknowledge receipt and understanding on the ABC Rules and Audit Guidelines.

4.1.2

No publisher member shall appoint an auditor who is an internal member of staff employed within the publishing company.

Magazine Publishers are entitled to use either a Chartered accountant as per 4.1.1 or the MPA approved Non CA external auditor.

4.2

In the event of any difference of opinion between the auditor and a publisher member, the matter shall be referred to the Committee for resolution.

4.3

Where dependence is placed on internal records, an evaluation of the publishers' sales, circulation and distribution
systems should be performed to ascertain whether reliance may be placed on these systems to verify circulation audit data.

4.4

If the circulation auditor is also the general organisation auditor procedures performed during the course of the general
audit may provide the necessary assurance for the circulation audit.

4.5

If the circulation auditor is not also the general auditor then the circulation auditor should either:

4.5.1

Obtain a representation from the general organisation auditor as to the effectiveness of the systems to be relied upon, or

4.5.2

Establish Circulation Audit Procedures that will facilitate a systems evaluation to the satisfaction of the Bureau.

4.6

It is the duty of the publishers to install, maintain and keep available for circulation auditors, true and correct records
of circulation, capable of being audited in accordance with these Guidelines.

4.7

If adequate records or systems of control have not been maintained the auditor should notify and discuss the issues with the
appropriate staff of the publisher. Where appropriate a report to management summarising the findings of the audit should be issued.

4.8

Circulation Audit Procedures should be restricted to ascertaining, supporting and checking the circulation figures and should
not extend to the activities of the publisher, which have no bearing on circulation.

4.9

The annual Circulation audit reports are to be signed by both the publisher and the approved auditor. One copy of the report is to be
forwarded by the auditor to the publisher on completion of the audit. The Publisher is obligated to ensure the signed copies of the completed
audit are forwarded to the ABC as per the report directions.